For this study, Dr. Schnaider Beeri and her team recruited 204 healthy middle-aged adults with a history of Alzheimer’s disease in their families. Study participants had a mean age of about 60, and 60% of the group was female.

Participants underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure their visceral and subcutaneous fat and measurements of their cognition and brain volumes.

Upon analysis, researchers found a higher amount of abdominal fat in their participant pool was associated with lower total gray matter volume in the brain and cognition.

They also discovered that middle-aged men at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease with higher amounts of pancreatic fat were correlated with lower cognition and brain volumes, compared to female participants.

“The finding regarding pancreatic fat cannot be named a surprise since this is likely the only study that investigated the potential role of pancreatic fat in brain and cognition,” Dr. Schnaider Beeri said.

“Diabetes and pre-diabetes — which occur because of impaired pancreatic function — are consistently associated with a higher risk of dementia, and our study suggests the involvement of pancreatic fat in this association.”

“Regarding the stronger findings in women, this was a surprise to us and we are investigating the causes for such differences,” she added. “Yet, our findings strongly suggest that research on the role of fat on brain aging must be done in the context of sex differences.”

After reviewing this study, Dr. Verna R. Porter, a board certified neurologist and director of the Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Neurocognitive Disorders at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, CA, told MNT that this study underscores the importance of comprehensive risk assessment and management strategies for patients.

“Focusing not only on traditional risk factors like genetics and lifestyle but also on metabolic factors such as abdominal fat distribution,” Dr. Porter added.

For the next steps in this research, Dr. Porter said she would like to see further exploration into the mechanisms underlying the relationship between abdominal fat and brain health, particularly in different population groups and across various stages of Alzheimer’s disease progression.

Dr. Mir Ali, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, said the main causes of abdominal obesity are poor diet — primarily too much sugar, alcohol, trans-fat, and not enough protein. Dr. Ali was not involved in the study.

“Unfortunately, you cannot target weight loss to certain areas like your abdomen,” Dr. Ali told MNT. “However, losing weight overall will lead to a reduction in truncal obesity. A diet high in fiber and protein as well as low in sugar is a great place to start.”

In addition to a healthy diet, Dr. Porter said regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and limiting alcohol consumption can help lower visceral fat.

“Chronic stress can contribute to abdominal fat accumulation,” she explained, noting the following stress-reduction techniques:

• meditation
• deep breathing exercises
• yoga
• spending time in nature

“Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help support metabolism and promote feelings of fullness, potentially reducing overeating and abdominal fat accumulation,” Dr. Porter said.